The question of a national monument or national park in Maine’s Katahdin region should warrant a slam-dunk answer: “No!”

Why so simple an answer? Because Maine is the state in the United States that has the highest percentage of private land. Not only that, but most of it is open to the public for recreational use at no cost. This unique system has worked to the public’s advantage for almost 200 years.

Why would anyone want to begin trading that in for federal government ownership with all its strings, rules and regulations?

Clifton E. Foster

forester and landowner

Gray